Jaxson Hayes Pursues Slovenian Citizenship to Unite with Luka Dončić on National Team

During a press conference following the Lakers’ recent preseason game, center Jaxson Hayes addressed his connection with Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić.

He also hinted at the possibility of acquiring Slovenian citizenship.

“Luka is a close friend of mine. We’re working on securing Slovenian citizenship so I can team up with him next summer,” the 25-year-old shared with reporters after the Lakers suffered a 121-94 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas.

Hayes had a commendable performance, scoring 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting while also securing 10 rebounds—marking his best showing of the preseason to date.

The Slovenian Basketball Federation has confirmed ongoing discussions related to the naturalization of a center aimed at bolstering the national team.

“As we’ve mentioned before, we are considering the addition of a new naturalized center. Our goal is to secure this player for a longer duration to ensure the team’s stability in the years ahead. At this moment, we are unable to provide specific names or details. Once everything is finalized and the procedures are complete, we will update the public,” a spokesperson for the federation stated, according to rtvslo.si.

Hayes was selected as the 8th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, launching his career with the New Orleans Pelicans before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023. Over six seasons, he has participated in 367 regular-season games, averaging 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.